Behind The Scenes of The Ghost Collectors With Allison Mills

What inspired the plot?

The plot of The Ghost Collector came from my processing of some of the things happening in my life at the time. I was working at a job where I spent a lot of time reading over archival records of the Canadian Residential School System. It was a difficult task, especially since I am an Indigenous person with family members who were residential school survivors. I spent a lot of time thinking about how people end up carrying trauma that isn’t theirs and about both literal and metaphorical haunting. These ideas ended up combining with these family stories I’d always been told about how my great-grandmother could find the bodies of people who went missing in Chapleau, Ontario to make the beginnings of The Ghost Collector—which started life as a short story in Apex Magazine.I always liked ghost stories as a kid. I was terrified of them, but I liked them and I also liked fantasy novels. When I sat down to work on The Ghost Collector, I wanted to write a paranormal fantasy about Indigenous characters where the Indigenous people weren’t ghosts haunting a burial ground. Shelly and her family are Cree, like me, and Shelly is super into ghosts, like I am. Shelly’s long hair being her connection to the talent she’s inherited is an aspect of the story that is very much tied to Cree spirituality. Once I’d set up this world and some of the characters in it, I started thinking about what would happen if a character who thought they understood death suddenly got confronted with a loss that surprised them—one that showed them they didn’t understand death as well as they thought. That’s where The Ghost Collector came from.

What character do you relate to the most and why?

I know I just talked about how Shelly was like me, but I think the character in the story I relate to the most is Amanda—Shelly’s mother. She and I have very similar taste in music—something we both have that in common with Joseph, who is definitely too cool for me to relate to too much—plus I like her a lot. She’s working hard to support her little family, along with Grandma, and she sticks to her beliefs no matter what. I’m not saying I have that same willpower, but I’m definitely stubborn.

What did you want the reader to take away from the story?

I wanted the reader to come out of the story feeling hopeful and with some deeper understanding of the importance of connection. Things end, but that doesn’t mean new things can’t begin, or that we’ll never get over things ending—it’s just part of life. Loss and change can be hard, but hard doesn’t mean impossible, especially not when you have friends and family who you can lean on when you need them. I think people often bottle negative feelings up inside because sharing them makes us feel vulnerable, or like a burden on our friends and family, but sharing heavy things makes the load lighter. It’s not burdening other people—it’s placing your trust in them.

How long did the book take to write?

That’s kind of tricky! The short story that eventually became The Ghost Collector is definitely where work on the novel started. That was written over the course of a few months. Turning it into a novel was a new process for me. Although I’ve written novel-length works before, this is my first published novel. I was approached by my editor at Annick Press, Claire Caldwell, about possibly turning the story into a book. I wrote an outline and a couple sample chapters, and once they were approved turned my attention to actually writing the novel. That was around May 2018. I completed the first draft in November and went into a few rounds of edits. I think February was when we were happy with the final manuscript for the book which means in some ways the book took a little less than a year to write, but realistically I think I’d count from about the time I finished the short story to the February final novel draft. Even after I finished writing the short story, it stuck with me, and I spent a lot of time trying to think of other things I could do with the characters and ways I could expand their world. Writing a novel hadn’t been one I thought of, but once Claire suggested it was possible, I knew I wanted to make it happen.

Signe Pike Q and A

Before we get into Signe Pike’s story, author of newly-released novel The Lost Queen, I think another story is important too: how this Q and A came to be.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada, I was granted a copy of Pike’s historical fiction novel. When I posted my four-star review on Twitter, Pike commented and from there reached out to me through messages. I then asked her if she would be up for an interview, and luckily, she said yes.

Signe Pike is author of new historical fiction novel, The Lost Queen. (Photo curtsey of the author)

​When did you know writing would be a huge part of your life?

I didn’t always know writing would be a huge part of my life, I just knew it was a part of me, like breathing. Or what we call “a hobby,” but for people who really understand hobbies, that word isn’t quite right. It’s an activity you feel drawn to because it feels like an expression of you. There should be a bigger word for that feeling of outlet

What inspired you to start writing?

The first things I ever wrote were journal entries in my diary (terrible) and poetry (equally terrible). Over time as I wrote more, I left my page with this inexplicable feeling that I had somehow transformed in the process. I began one way, with a feeling or question, and came out somehow different. It was important to my development as a person, and aside from later winning some poetry competitions, it was something I kept largely private. I loved the process of writing though, so turned it toward journalism in college. I loved writing papers, too. What a weirdo! Later, in my late 20s, when my father died, that was the first time I combined the two sides of my writing; personal and journalistic. It created my first book, Faery Tale.

How long did it take for you to write The Lost Queen?

Six years.

What inspired the storyline?

The storyline of The Lost Queen is based on the actual life and events of Languoreth, a historical queen of 6th century Scotland. The fiction fills in the gaps we don’t know. That’s where The Muse enters the writing process!

Can you briefly explain the publishing process?

Oh gosh. Which part? There’s the finishing a manuscript part, the finding an agent part, the finding a publisher part, the physical motions a manuscript goes through as it goes through the production pike… All this info is fascinating, and I could go on for hours, but luckily I don’t have to because these days, all this info is available online.

How did it feel to hold the first copy of your book?

It’s an incredible feeling. It makes you believe in magic. I had a baby three years ago, a little boy, and it’s rather like that. This feeling of holding your baby for the first time.

What words can you offer aspiring authors?

Read, read, read, as Neil Gaiman says. Read outside your genre, read inside your genre. Read books that excite you, read books that land in your path. Absorb them, study them, enjoy them and dissect them. Then give yourself over to your own story. Stories have their own magic and a very important secret; they want to be born. They’ll help you figure out how if you learn how to pay attention.

Writing For Sheer Pleasure

Marie McWilliams, 31, is a resident of Northern Ireland who finds particular interest in in writing, reading and posting on her Bookstagram account on Instagram…

But it wasn’t until two years ago that she became serious about writing.

“What do you do for yourself?” asked McWilliams’ counselor.

McWilliams remembers she didn’t have an answer for this question because she had never thought about it. She dedicated her life to work and family, even after going through post-natal depression after the birth of her daughter. Little things she used to find interest in lacked vibrancy.

“She told me to find something I love and enjoy and to do it, just for the sheer pleasure of doing it, and so I wrote my book, I started my blog and I began to bookstagram,” says McWilliams.

“I haven't looked back since.”

A strong and loving mother, McWilliams is also an author of her crime novel Broken Mirrors, indie-published this year in April (2018). She says the process took about two years.

“I came across Veranda Kuhar studios when I was bookstagramming and really liked what they were trying to create. I thought it seemed like a great way to dip my toe into the world of writing and tosee how my work was received,” says McWilliams.

“Most publishing houses require writing agents and this was so much simpler and more personal. I also loved the idea of working with someone else who was just starting out, so we could learn the ropes together.”

After editing, layout and cover design, McWilliams finally held her book baby in her hands.

“It felt incredibly surreal. My name was on the cover, my words were in the pages, but it felt like it couldn't possibly be real. Now, knowing there are people all over the world with their own copy, brings me so much joy,” says McWilliams.

Crime novels and TV shows became a source of inspiration for McWilliams as she became invested in the characters: their emotions, thoughts and mannerisms. It’s hard not to think her career guided her toward this genre as well, as she works in the criminal justice system.

“I have always been fascinated by criminal psychology and profiling, so it was just the genre I kind of felt most at ease in,” says McWilliams.

She says she has another crime book in the works, although this piece contains more of a horror aspect.

“People will reject your work, some readers will hate your writing, that's just life. At the end of the day you have to do what you love.”

And continue to do what you love.

A Story That Needed To Be Heard

Gretchen Gomez contemplates her writing while staring out a window.
(Photo curtesy of Gretchen Gomez)

With eyes closed, picture a little girl.

Picture a little girl with dark hair and glasses. She is about six years old.

Now place a desk in front of her, her legs tucked neatly in the space where a person’s legs are meant to fit, like the paper in the box of stationary sitting on the corner.

Place a pen in her hand and an open diary in front of her.

She begins to write.

Move forward 20 years and Gretchen Gomez is now a 28-year-old Puerto Rican woman and poet living in Bronx in New York. She has a bachelor's degree in forensic psychology she does not quite know what she would like to do with yet, but she is thankful for the way it has shaped her way of thinking.

Gomez grew up in a creative household and said writing was second nature. Her first book of poetry, love & you, was published April 4, 2017.

“When I started writing love & you, it wasn’t an initial thought in my head. I wrote pretty much half of that book in one sitting, letting all the pain flow out of me and then it hit me that maybe someone out there needed to hear this story, needed to know that they too can make it out alive and strong. Those people inspired me,” says Gomez.

With love & you’s prevalent themes surrounding emotional abuse and heartbreak, it is an intense yet beautiful read. She said the book took about a month to complete and then continued with her work through self publishing.

“I’ve seen amazing poets do great things with their self-published books. The independent journey has been knowledgeable. It’s been a learning experience and it’s also been hard work. Nothing comes easy when you want your work to stand out, and as a woman of colour, I have to work so much harder,” says Gomez.

There have been times of difficulty in trying to make her work stand out and said her greatest obstacle has been racism.

“It’s not head-on. It’s also dealing with male she-poets who feel like it’s okay to take mine and other women's stories for their own gain and praise,” says Gomez. “Meanwhile, I, a woman who’s telling the story of trauma, violence, abuse and survival, is getting silenced.”

According to urbandictionary.com, a she-poet is a "sub-genre of a predominantly male Instapoets demographic on Instagram that focus on the topic of womanly lust and desires, mostly from the perspective and interpretation of the male narrative figure. Not to be confused with misogynists, the she-poet yearns to obtain a metaphysical connection between a current and/or past love interest through a narrow-minded view of life or literary prowess."

The site states the male she-poet often writes to woo women and become popular.

Gomez says her writing style depends on the type of poetry she is writing and loves each of her poems equally in her book, she does not have favourites.

“I mostly write short tagline poetry but I also write long poetry. Sometimes I write poetry with a punch, sometimes I don’t have much to say, sometimes I have a whole story. Depends on the theme of the poem and where my head is at.”

With her head in the game, Gomez will be releasing her next poetry book, welcome to ghost town, October 23, 2018. She says she has the makings for a third book of poetry as well. She does not know when it will be released.

love & you is Gretchen Gomez's first book of poetry containing themes of heartbreak and abuse. Her second book, ghost town, will be released October 23. (Photo by Ryan Jones)

Daniel Dismuke Q and A

The biggest mistake any content creator can do is write off an idea without exploring an attempt to bring it to life."

How old are you?

I am currently 23 years old, but was 22 when starting Peter and finishing it.​

Where are you from?

I am from Reading, Pennsylvania. It is a small town in Berks County which is about an hour or so from Philadelphia.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself such as your journey growing up, your interests and hobbies? Did you attend university or college?

My journey growing up was pretty basic to be honest, and didn’t have a lot to do with writing. I always loved movies as a kid, I would alphabetize my DVDs and when that got old I would arrange them chronologically by release date. I played basketball, football, baseball and lacrosse growing up. I did not spend much time on the arts in any capacity. I did attend college for a fair amount of time. I went to Kutztown University in PA, it is about thirty minutes from my hometown. I entered as a sports management major and then switched to business management. I then took a leave of absence in my senior year to focus on my film and writing career.

When did you start writing and what inspired you to write?

I honestly didn’t start writing until winter break of 2017, that was around the time I decided I was going to be taking a break from college to pursue writing, film industry work. What inspired me to start writing was being unsure what I wanted out of my career in business management, realizing I did not like business management and financial troubles. My friend Matt Thomas and I had that typical “let’s write a script” moment. We looked into cheapest film budgets and horror was the cheapest so that’s how I decided on thriller/horror. He could not dedicate to the creation due to time restrictions but I continued it and Peter originally started as a script, and about thirty pages in I decided to switch it to a novel, because I felt the best way to promote/market a movie script was to have people love a book about it.

When did you start writing Peter?

Peter is actually the very first full piece I have ever written. Of course I have had homework assignments in high school and college - poems, short stories etc. However the first piece I chose to create on my own was the first book in the Peter trilogy.

For those who don't know the storyline, can you explain the story in your own words?

Peter is a psychological thriller trilogy that can be secondarily classified as a horror. It is the story of two twins - Amy and Kyle Jameson - who thought the world of each other and were best friends growing up. As years pass, their bond grows weaker and by their senior year of high school they barely speak to each other. Kyle is quiet and focuses on art. Amy gravitates more towards the popularity scene. Amy makes a decision that unfortunately causes Kyle’s accidental death. As she fights to deal with the weight and sadness of that burden someone contacts her and holds her actions over her head. Amy, who is desperate to keep her mistake a secret, can only confide in Kyle’s best friend. However as things begin to unwind, more people around town begin to die and it seems that this stalker may be after each member in Amy’s family.

When was Peter published?

Peter was self published by myself through Amazon in June of 2017. It was traditionally published and picked up by Apollo Publications and released in February 2018.

​How long did the book take to write?

The book took about four months to write. I planned the entire trilogy from the end of the third to the beginning of the first book before I began writing. This made it much easier to complete it at a solid pace.

How many copies have you sold?

I am unsure and unable to say the exact amount of copies sold at the moment. I do not see how many books sold until the end of each quarter when Apollo presents my royalty statement. However, I do know that around 45-60 copies sold when it was self published.

I know you're working on a movie for Peter. Can you explain how the process is going?

The process for the film is a long and complicated one for sure, but, if you love it, you really learn a lot and cherish it. The process is going very well. We were originally going to try and shoot the entire feature this summer. After talking with investors and potential theatrical distributors, they wanted to see some content before pulling the trigger on deals and investments. So I decided to condense the feature onto a 17-23 minute short which we are still planning to shoot this summer. It is mainly for the potential investors and distributors but we will have it done in time to submit to Sundance - so we will be crossing our fingers and sending it there as well. For the short, I have my core crew, a majority of the actors, our musical composer and almost all locations decided. We are excited to start.

What are your future writing plans?

My future writing plans are strictly on Peter 2, book and script, and then Peter 3 book and script. That is really as far as I am game plan wise with my writing. I am about 70 per cent done Peter 2 and it is aimed to release October, 2018. I do have one script halfway complete which is a romantic comedy titled Route 12 which just randomly popped in my head, and as a writer you have to capture the ideas as they come, or they could be gone forever, so naturally I had to start putting it on paper. I have no completion or pre-production plans for Route 12, I may even sell the idea of it down the road and stay out of the production, who knows. I can say that once Peter's trilogy is complete I will be taking a long hiatus from the thriller/horror genre. They are my favorite to read and watch, but not to write. Don’t get me wrong I am loving creating Peter, but after three separate projects of this genre you need a serious breather.

Millie Florence Q and A

Can you start by telling me a little bit about yourself such as your age, where you're from and your interests/hobbies?

I’m fourteen and have been homeschooled my entire life. Last August, when I published Honey Butter, I was thirteen. I live out in the forest with my four other siblings and my mom and dad. We lived in the suburbs up until I was nine, but as our family was growing we decided to move. I wanted some way to remember my old home though, so I used it for the foundation of Honey Butter’s scenery. Winchester Court is actually the name of the street we lived on.

As for interests, I love any and all things adventurous! Zip lines, backpacking, skateboarding, swimming, boating, rock climbing, pogo-sticking. And I’m also a very adventurous eater, whenever my family travels somewhere, I’m always the first to try all the new foods, especially the culturally different ones. “Either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing.” Is the quote I apply to nearly every situation.

Also… I love all things yellow! Almost everything I own is yellow.

When did you begin writing?

I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember. When I was only three or four I remember whispering stories to myself under the covers at night. One year I received a recorder for Christmas and filled every bit of space on it with my stories.

I read constantly. Even before I could read I listened to classics like A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, and Anne of Green Gables.

Before I could type I would have one of my parents stand by the computer and type down everything I said. It must have been a tedious task. My stories were mostly fantasy with dozens of made up words and strange names, but I am certainly grateful for their help.

Once I grew better at reading and typing there was no stopping me, I read veraciously and wrote as much as I could. Honey Butter was the first book I ever finished completely.

What inspired you to write?

In general, I’m inspired simply by my imagination and the ways it has of putting together new worlds inside my head. Honey Butter is actually very different in this way, from other books I’ve written, because I don’t usually write realistic fiction. It is a work of art that I will never cease to love, but I’m a fantasy girl at heart.

For every book I write, I always have something in mind I’m trying to say - a sort of underlying moral. For Honey Butter, it was how important your family is, specifically siblings, because I often hear other kids my age talking about how much they dislike their siblings (sometimes even using the word hate) and that always makes me really sad. My siblings are my cheerleaders, my comic relief, my best friends and my dream team. Yes, we do get in fights, all siblings do, but at the end of the day, we always love each other. I’m the oldest in my family and see it as my responsibility to be the best possible big sister that I can.

Through Honey Butter, I wanted to communicate that message. Erica is a reminder to me and other oldest siblings, of what not to be. Jamie shows us how younger siblings can be really effected by what we say and how we treat them. Laren’s story is a reminder of how precious our time is with those we have around us.

What was the first thing you wrote?

The earliest story I have documented on my computer is about a kitten that gets lost in the woods.

How long did it take you to write Honey Butter?

Nine months. From November 2016, to August 2017.

When was it published?

August 14, 2017. Fun fact. August 14is actually the day the book ends and it’s Laren’s birthday.

Did you publish any works prior to your novella?

I had a poem published in a teen literary journal shortly after I finished the first draft of Honey Butter. However, since that is published under my real name, rather than my pen name, I’d rather not say where.

How many copies have you sold of Honey Butter?

84 so far. Sometimes I feel a little down about this, like I should be more successful. The premise of the story isn’t exactly an attention grabber. I have several more exciting story ideas to write in the future which will probably sell better. I’m getting my name out there and for my first book that’s really the only goal.

Did you traditionally publish or independently publish? Why did you choose one over the other?

I published Honey Butter independently. The truth of the matter is that big publishing companies don’t generally accept submissions anymore and small publishing companies won’t help you sell your book any better than if you self-publish.

However, big publishing companies will look for self publishers whose books are selling well and will offer to re-publish their books or publish their next book. This is what happened to Christopher Paolini, author of the Eragon books.

So I think self-publishing is a good place to start and grow my audience.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

My favourite thing about writing is the moment when everything clicks into place, when my mind fills with inspiration and I start writing and the words just keep coming.

What are your future writing plans?

Right now I’m going to take my career one step at a time, or perhaps should I say one word at a time?Right now I’m working on my second book, this one is a children’s fantasy novel titled Lydia Green of Mulberry Glen. I’m also working on a collection of original poems.

Notes From Herself

Writing poetry can be therapeutic. At 24, Stacy Morris lives in Australia and works for Apple as a technical advisor. On the side, she is an author. Her first book, Notes to Self, was published August 2016. “[It is] a poetry collection delving into the emotional side of the human experiences. Its themes are with mental health and relationships - romantic, family and the relationship with self,” said Morris. Morris enjoys reading and photography, and said she started writing when she was 11 - her first piece a Christmas song for her brother. Professionally, her first work was a news article. Morris chose self publishing because she said she found it interesting and liked having control. Since the release date her book has affected many people. “I started out with my meaning of success being just to help one person, to have this book really be able to motivate them to change their lives or start a difficult conversation,” said Morris. “I have received numerous emails from readers who have told me the book was able to help them. That really touches my heart and that’s what this was all about.”She is currently working on another book of poetry, a continuation of Notes to Self, an aftermath of how her life has changed. “Notes to Self needed to be raw and straightforward. My next book allows me to play with words more and create alternate pieces.”When it comes down to it, Morris writes as a form of reflection, which will show in her next book.

Soul Writer

Among the concrete jungle of New York a passionate author roams.

The snap of a button, the woosh of a shutter, a picture appears on the back of a camera. The hum of a coffee maker and the fluid melody the liquid forms when being poured into a cip. The scrape of lead across paper and the rigorous ticks of a keyboard…

This is McKayla DeBonis.

At 20 she is a self-published author of two poetry books, Semicolon and Bones in the Garden. She helps her mom with photography projects and is a part time employee at Dunkin Donuts. She loves all aspects of writing, reading and binge-watching t.v. series.

DeBonis said she started writing at a young age and enjoyed being able to escape reality to create her own world.

“The first thing I ever wrote was a short story of Lara Croft searching for a hidden world in the Amazon. When I was young, all my dad and I would rent on weekends would be Tomb Raider.”

She has been an author since 2017 and said one of the reasons she chose to self-publish is because things were completed on her time and schedule.

“My first book is titled, Bones in the Garden and it talks about my the time I went through an abusive relationship, the theme essentially talks about flowers in the garden, my past buried in the soil, along with my bones from my former self,” said DeBonis.

“My second is titled Semicolon; and it talks about darkness, the depression and anxiety that I’ve endured my whole life but the second part takes you through the light or the healing process of my mental illnesses. It’s mostly about the growth from one to the other.”

Writing is a form of healing for DeBonis and said she loves what she does. She is currently working on a futuristic fiction novel where the main character is trapped underground and is curious about what exists above.

“If I could give the writer next to me advice then I would say to write for yourself because you matter,” said DeBonis.

“Let your words heal yourself first, don’t write for the person next to you just because you think they will enjoy it better. That’s not the point of writing.”

Christian Sterling Q and A - New Novella

How old are you and can you provide me with some personal background such as where you grew up, hobbies, interests and occupation? I just turned 25, grew up in RI, and started my career in the Music Industry… I worked for ESPN after college, then moved to Nashville, TN to market country acts. I was a guitarist for years, but have recently been spending most of my time writing, going to the gym, and eating Chipotle.

When did you start writing? What inspired you to write?

I always liked to write and was pretty good at in school. The essays and poetry I wrote in high school tended to be the ones that caused a bit of buzz in the classroom. I didn’t realize until later on that I had more than knack for writing, it was my primary medium as an artform.

How did you become an author? What was your journey like?

I’d had this idea for a TV show and knew I’d never be able to make it come to fruition, so figured I’d make it a book and see what would happen. Within the first page of writing I realized I had been wasting my time in music and decided to focus on writing as my medium for art. I’ve pursued writing to a larger extent than I ever thought, especially since the response to my work has been so positive.

How many books do you have published to date?

Two as of this Friday. American Parable: Ashes and Embers was my first, and my novella Death Row. The second in the American Parable series should be out come Summer 2018, and I’m hoping to have the start of another series released at the top of the year 2019. Both series should alternate going forward.

What is your favourite genre to write?

I think it’s hard to put a label on the genre, but definitely fiction. There was a moment where I realized I write mostly about virtuous criminals, something that was not a conscious decision. I think this is because criminals are almost always deemed outsiders to everyday society, something I connect with.

Do you like to read as well? Why or why not? If you do like to read, which genres do you prefer?I do, although I don’t have as much time as I used to unfortunately. I loved Tolkien growing up, as well as a number of other fantasies. I think Of Mice and Men is pure poetry from start to finish.

What made you choose the indie publishing route?I’m impatient and stubborn. I don’t like the idea of my story sitting on an agent’s desk for 6 months to have them tell me everything that is wrong with my characters. I hate the idea of my story sitting on a publisher’s desk for a year for them to tell me everything that is wrong with my story. My work is a representation of me in my truest form, and until a business wants to collaborate with me in a way where I can stay true to myself as an artist, I’ll be an indie author.

Were there any obstacles in your publishing journey? Hell yeeeeah. I did my own artwork for American Parable, formatted it, edited it, learned what it’s like to hire a bad editor, see typos in the story after ordering copies, re-editing, all of it. It’s a learning curve, but the beauty is, you can always go back and fix things and continually get better. I was lucky with Death Row to work with an excellent artist and editor, but I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate that had I not gone through all those obstacles in my first release.

How successful have your publications been? Honestly, surprisingly well (though a long way away from being a NYT Bestseller, haha). I’ve yet to do a major marketing push for any of the books aside from Instagram. I’m waiting until the second AP is released so I have a series to sell with Death Row in my catalogue as well. But having gotten virtually all positive feedback on my work so far, most of which from strangers, I consider that a success.

When did you start writing Death Row and what inspired the storyline?

Being an artist/creative is a very difficult thing in today’s world. The main character of the story is an imprisoned painter who spends much of his time in solitude, painting and thinking, as many artists prefer. It’s a bit of a parallel to the artists we see sitting behind desks all day, too tired to pursue their art when they can.

What would you coin as your own writing technique?

I tend to get right to the point. People don’t have time or want to spend the time reading a five page description about a tree-those days are over. And when there’s character development, I tend to wrap it in a scene where there’s humor surrounding it to give the scene more pep. So short and sweet.

Which authors have inspired your writing?Tolkien. Rowling. GRRM...to name a few.

What future writing goals do you have planned?

American Parable will be 5 books, the first three of which will be its own movement, each book coming out a year apart. I have a new series in the works, and I’d love to do a fantasy series one day as well. I think in between these novels I’ll continue to write smaller literary pieces as I did with Death Row.

​

Katy Upperman Q and A - Author of Kissing Max Holden

What made you want to become an author?

I’ve always loved reading (Judy Blume is my lifelong favorite author), though it didn’t occur to me to pursue writing as a career until 2008, about a year after my daughter was born. I’d been a teacher up until that point and while I loved staying home with my girlie, I missed the sense of community that comes with working. I was also desperate for a creative outlet. I picked up Twilight on a whim, then fell headfirst into the compulsively readable saga of Edward and Bella. It was such a fun literary experience, I felt inspired to try writing myself. My first manuscript was a contemporary young adult romance that was way too long and severely lacking in plot. It ended up going nowhere (thank goodness!), but the act of writing brought me such joy. I’ve been hooked ever since!

How long did it take for you to write Kissing Max Holden?

This is sort of a loaded question. Kissing Max Holden was my second manuscript, and also my fifth. The first time I wrote it, the draft took about two months to complete, followed by a few more months of revising. I queried, hoping to find agent representation, but the story just wasn’t strong enough. I trunked it to work on new projects, but Jilly and Max kept calling out to me. Eventually, I revisited the manuscript, but ended up throwing out everything but the main characters in favor of a new and improved storyline. So, from very first words to publication, Kissing Max Holden turned out to be an eight year (!!!) project.

Do you have any future writing plans and if so what are they?

My sophomore novel, The Impossibility of Us, a contemporary YA about a California girl who falls for an Afghan boy, will release July 31, 2018, so my most immediate plan is to drum up excitement about this new book that I love so much. Beyond that, I want to keep writing for as long as I feel passionate about story and character. I want to continue learning and improving my craft. I want to produce work I’m proud of, and hopefully sell that work to publishers who will put it in the hands of young adults (and young adults at heart!).

What has been the most difficult thing about being an author?

Letting go of the work. Once a book is published, it no longer belongs to the author; it belongs to readers. Still, I’m such an approval seeking people pleaser, I sometimes find myself hoping everyone will adore my book baby as much as I do. Unfortunately, that’s not reality; even the most beloved novels have their haters! Learning to free the story once it hits shelves and making peace with the fact that my books won’t be for all readers has been a hard fought battle, but I think I’m getting there. Hearing from readers who connect with the story definitely helps!

What has been your favourite thing?

The most thrilling experience so far was the first time I saw Kissing Max Holden in a bookstore. Though I’d dreamed about that moment for years, I was not prepared for how amazing it would be. Also, receiving messages from readers about how they relate to Jilly or swoon over Max or couldn’t help but bake cookies when they were done reading is pretty special. It’s humbling and amazing when someone tells me that they can’t wait to read what I write next.

What is your goal as a writer and, simply, a person?

My goal is to produce high quality work, while striving to be a gracious and compassionate person. (I keep thinking on this question, trying to come up with something more eloquent or verbose, but it’s really that simple: I want to do my best, and be my best.)

Sadia Q and A - Dundurn Press Blog Tour

The biggest obstacle with this book was ensuring I wrote the voice of a Muslim teenager accurately. It was a risk, but I think worth it. I learned so much about Muslim culture through research and talking to students and friends.

When did you start writing?

I’ve been writing for about twelve years. When my first son was a baby, I decided to take a course at the Manitoba Writers Guild on writing books for children. One of our assignments was to write the first chapter of a young adult novel. When the course finished, I kept working on the book. It took five years but that book finally got published as Tori by Design in 2011. Thankfully, I write my books much faster now.​ What inspired your writing?

I love the idea of giving voice to characters readers don’t see or hear from much in young adult literature. I’ve written a lot about children growing up in rough circumstances, or facing problems that I think need to be recognized as areas for discussion. Sadia began when one of my students was having trouble finding books with Muslim characters. At the time, there wasn’t much out there, except for Deborah Ellis’ Breadwinner series. While Sadia is Muslim and her cultural identity features largely in the book, she’s also a tomboy, an athlete and a teenager grappling with shifting sands of friendship.

How long did it take for you to write Sadia and what inspired the storyline?

I wrote the first draft of Sadia very quickly, in under six weeks. It was the summer and my kids were at camp. All of a sudden I had hours every day to write. I came across an article about a junior high girls’ basketball team who were mostly Muslim players. In order to play, they had special uniforms sewn for them that respected hijab. I used that article as the jumping off point for the book.

After the first draft was finished, I gave it to a friend to read. Nadia is Muslim and pointed out inaccuracies, but also places in the book where my misconceptions had snuck in. I did more rewrites and then sent it to Dundurn. I was overjoyed when they accepted it and excited to see a book I passionately believe in reach publication. Did you encounter any obstacle in writing? If so, explain.

The biggest obstacle with this book was ensuring I wrote the voice of a Muslim teenager accurately. It was a risk, but I think worth it. I learned so much about Muslim culture through research and talking to students and friends.

The other obstacle was Sadia’s age. I’d initially written her as a middle school student, but Dundurn was hoping for an older audience. During editing, I changed her from grade six to grade nine. It’s only three years, but what a difference in makes in the way the character sees herself and sees the world. Given a tight editing timeline, it was a push and I basically locked myself in the spare bedroom/my office working for two weeks straight.

What message would you like your novel to portray?

Acceptance, definitely. These days we have too many reports of intolerance and a lot of it is due to ignorance about other cultures or fear. Sadia is forced to stand up for herself when discriminatory rules about her headscarf disallow her from playing in a basketball tournament. My favourite scene in the book is when the rest of her team stands up for her too.

What are your future writing plans?

I have another book coming out in May with Yellow Dog Books. It’s called Pulse Point and I wrote it with my sister. It’s dystopian, which is a new genre for me. Kaia lives in world where citizens have to produce the energy they consume. As soon as a person can’t produce enough energy, they are killed. When Kaia learns the mother she thought was dead is alive, she escapes the City to find her and discovered secrets about the world she thought she knew.

​

A 'Hot Topic' Author By Biblio Virgo

At the age of 26, living in Syracuse, Utah, she has published four novels to date: Swallow, The Openers, Stereo, and her most recent, Seven Cities. Knowing she most likely wouldn’t be able to make a living off of writing books she had worked on achieving an English major at Weber State University to expand her education. Due to mental illness these plans did not come through. She is now an assistant manager at Hot Topic said she loves working with her employees and “geeking-out” over new product.

Meet Jayna Ostler.

“I think the very first story I ever wrote was in fourth grade. About a giant snake at my elementary school getting locked up in a cage or something. I've always enjoyed stories and my mom got me into reading at a young age. In high school, a few of my friends called me ‘my friend writing a book’ and I let a lot of people read my ridiculous stories about ‘hot guys in bands’ and ‘extra hot vampires.’ Thankfully.... those stories will never be completed or shown to the public,” said Ostler.

After high school she continued writing.

“A roomate I had while working in Yellowstone, the summer after I graduated, told me about NaNoWriMo since I was writing a story in a notebook in our kitchen. I was intrigued by the idea and when I moved home, before starting college, I slaved away with 1667 words a day for the entire month. That was the very first time I finished writing a book in its entirety,” said Ostler.

Since then Ostler said she has become an annual participant in NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo writing camps. She said she has predominately written YA contemporary because this is her preferred genre.

“I try really hard to write about real things, even if they are very hard things to talk about. Struggles with mental illness are very prevalent in two of my novels which was very therapeutic for me to write. I try to bring a lot of LGBTG+ representation into my work as well, but I am trying to step up my game with that as well,” said Ostler.

As a self-published author, Ostler said her biggest difficulty was not getting paid which can be disappointing because self-publishing takes a lot of work from cover design to editing bodies of text. She said a few of her books are being sold in local Syracuse bookstores but she constantly has to remind the stores to give her her percent share. Although this is an obstacle it does not damper her spirits.

“Write everywhere. Write every day. Even if it's simply jotting down ideas for stories, traits of people for characters, or good conversation you want to turn into dialogue, write every day. I always carry a notebook in my bag with me and a few spare pens,” said Ostler. “It's helped me remember crucial details to stories and helps me to avoid boredom when I'm in a waiting room. Write bad. A first draft is called a rough draft for a reason. Nothing has to be perfect the first time around and not everything will be perfect the 100th time around and that's perfectly okay. Every bad piece of writing is practice for a better story.”

Ostler said she is currently working on a sequel to Stereo called Records and is also working on a novel based in Utah surrounding the topic of LGBTQ+.

More to come from this YA author.

​

Books of Bronx By Biblio Virgo

The state of New York is not just for business people clad in suit and ties carrying brief cases.

Living in Bronx, New York, Cornelius Moore is the author of The Club which was published in August of 2016. At 47, he works as a technical recruiter in the city of Manhattan, living with his wife and one daughter. Moore said he has been successful as an author, but has not made enough profit to make a living off of just writing. He said his main interests lay in the written word and reading.

“I actually started writing when I was a teenager but I found the things I was writing were very juvenile and underdeveloped. I decided not to write until I felt I was mature enough to write competent stories. It wasn’t until my early 30s when I felt more complex and well-rounded stories came to me. That’s when it started becoming my passion,” said Moore.

Through his writing, Moore said it gives him freedom that he cannot find through anything else. His first and only novel so far, The Club, an adult crime/drama, actually started as a screen play. He said he has not written any other screen plays because his main focus has drifted to novels.

Moore decided to take the self-publishing route with Create Space and said he did not encounter any obstacles in this journey. Since 2016 he said he has sold about 200 copies.

“Two events inspired me to write this story. The first one was when Bornie Madoff was arrested for his massive Ponzi scheme and fleeced people out of hundreds of million dollars. The second one was a story I read in the New York Times about how rich people struggle when the economy is down,” said Moore.

On top of the 200 copies sold, Moore said he has 60 good reviews on Amazon with people still reading the novel.

Moore said he is currently working on a four-book series called Crimes and Passions. He said he is also planning on writing a sequel to The Club which will incorporate familiar characters throughout all novels.

As an author he said he loves the ability to use his imagination.

“Everything and everyone is fair game on the page. I have no fear when I am writing.”

Dream itBy Biblio Virgo

Age does not limit success.

At 17 years old, a senior in highschool, Brittney Kristina has managed to write her first published book Forsaken. As a young author she is also a dedicated student involved in varsity swim team, water polo team and being editor for her school newspaper.

Sociality is a strong suit for Kristina. She said even if people do not know her name they know who she is, a writer. Kristina said her favourite things to do between classes are listening to music, reading and writing stories.

“I’ve always loved to write,” said Kristina. “The moment I held a pencil, I just sort of knew. When I truly discovered my ability to write, I was nine. I had written my first book (about 60 pages of a spiral notebook) called Snow Cats. I presented it to my fourth grade teacher, and she didn’t believe me at first. But she scanned over it and I remember looking at her face - her eyes lit up, a broad smile emerging into view.”

It is suffice to say Kristina was born with the ability to write. Eight years later she has developed her writings from 60 pages of a notebook to 250 pages of a novel. Although she did not publish any works before Forsaken, Kristina said she wrote about 13 books which ended up in the garbage after completion.

“I actually wroteForsaken twice. It took me about eight months the first time, but then six months later I took it down and perfected it. It took me about 10 months the second time. I suppose you can call me a perfectionist when it comes to my writing,” said Kristina.

She said there were several obstacles within the writing process due to being a senior in highschool. She said there were many distractions which came with being a teenager such as recognition of peers, “boys” and education.

“I think my biggest issue was finding the time to sit down and write it. Eventually though, I got into this groove and I wrote about five hours a day,” said Kristina.

The story line for Forsakencame to Kristina when she was 14 through a dream. Despite the three-year-gap she said she still clearly remembers what happened.

“In the dream, me and this boy with long blonde hair traveled a vacant world, clouded with blue mist. At the end of the dream, he told me he would find me one day and I truly believe he meant Forsakenwould find me,”said Kristina.

As soon as she woke from the dream she grabbed her journal and wrote down every detail. At the time she was working on a different story, letting the dream lie dormant between the journal’s pages until she was 15. Not long after, she resuscitated the memory, forming her dystopian novel, which has been selling well. “I get one or two random people purchasing Forsaken each month, but that’s enough for me right now. I see one purchase and a smile sits on my face for a while. My best month was August of this year - I sold nine books,” said Kristina.

She is currently working on a second novel called 50 Days. She said she hopes this book will further envelope her in the world of writing, but she will not stop there. Kristina said she would also like to become a motivational speaker who writes non-fiction books for teenagers and teaches writing courses. Her ultimate goal though, is to become a trauma psychologist and write books on the side. Big things are coming.

“In the end, being young isn’t an excuse. Do you want to achieve something? Then do it now, don’t wait for a college degree… Life is too short to wander among a path with no destination,” said Kristina.

“Put that phone away, make some coffee and write.”

Something UnexpectedBy Biblio Virgo

Life is not about where you start, but where you end, and all the things in between.

Author and mother, Kirsten Fullmer, was born in Oregon, United States. Upon graduating from high school, Fullmer had decided to get married and had two children. Unfortunately, things did not remain this way.

At 24, Fullmer was a divorced, single mom without education and cleaned hotel rooms to make a living. In time, she met her second husband where she had two more children and was able to go back to school to become a structural draftsman, a person who applies minor electrical and structural calculations to buildings.

In due time, Fullmer’s work payed off. She said she acquired her own consulting business and would travel nationwide, and sometimes even globally, to teach 3D structural machinery software.

Though Fullmer had a successful career as a draftsman, her retirement brought a career all in its own.

“People always told me I was a storyteller… I passed my stories among friends and family who encourage me to continue writing,” said Fullmer. “I was nearly 50 years old when I wrote and published my first novel, and I did not expect to find a whole new career that I would love.”

And so it began. Fullmer wrote and published all three books of Shabby Chic Trilogywithin four years.

“While writing book three, Shabby Chic Forever, I pulled the first two books from my initial publisher and found a new publisher who would give me more control over distribution,” said Fullmer.

The books were then redesigned and officially published in 2016.

Fullmer said due to an illness she sometimes finds writing difficult. Lines of thought are left incomplete and she said she lacks concentration. Her biggest challenge though, Fullmer said, was the death of her daughter in March 2016.

“It was very sudden and found it extremely difficult to find the inspiration to do much of anything, let alone writing,” said Fullmer.

Despite this difficult time, Fullmer said the sales for her books were always increasing. 4000 books are currently circulating the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Brazil and Japan.

It does not stop there. Fullmer just published a new book, Love On The Line,on June 17, 2017.

“The story was inspired by the tales I heard at the dinner table as my husband and daughter recounted their days at work,” said Fullmer. “I’ve been considering writing a series of books about women working in male dominated fields, like I did in drafting, so this book seemed a great place to start.”

Like Shabby Chic Trilogy, and now her new novel, Fullmer said she wishes to continue writing stories about women who try to keep their lives in order, even when men try to intervene.

Are there more books to come? Wait and find out.

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Divine Inspiration​By Biblio Virgo

People discover their creativity differently. For some people it is present from birth. For others it is meshed over time.

Tarah Burrell, author of Disciple, is from North Georgia Mountains. She started writing in her teenage years, though it was not words of literature, but music.

Years later, Burrell became a mother and she said this is when her creativity really started to shine.

“You could say I was ‘divinely’ inspired. I had a thought, and I strongly felt this thought was tied to God. I felt the emotion so greatly that I began to create a story around it. This gave birth to writing an actual book,” said Burrell.

With one book of the trilogy published, Disciple,she is now working on the sequel.

“'Disciple' is a young-adult, paranormal romance novel, based out of Savannah, Georgia. I have a very big love for that city. It only made sense to create the story line around it,” said Burrell. “I put a lot of myself into Brynn, the lead character, in the way that she is an artist. She has just begun her first year in college, when she meets 'The One', in Brandon, her classmate. There's something in him that she recognizes, and just madly falls for. In the meantime, Savannah being the sort of place that it is, eery things begin to happen to her. Very scary occurrences pop up in her life, and she meets both angels and demons alike.”

In respect to publication she said she chose self-publishing because finding an “accepting” agent in a large publishing house can be tricky, though this was not the only thing.

Writer’s block also posed as an obstacle when writing her novel.

“It’s actually where I am right now. I have also found that creating dialogue is tough. A woman in her mid thirties doesn’t always have the advantage of what a teenager Brynn’s age is experiencing, or her thoughts and mannerisms. I had a rough time with that,” said Burrell.

As Burrell continues to write the trilogy she said she is also working on a new story she started.

“So, stay tuned.”

The evolution of grief By Biblio Virgo

It is common for grief to act as a roadblock in people’s lives. Something traumatic happens and a person can shut down, unable to continue in daily habits. Or a person can use the trauma to their advantage, developing emotion into success. This proves true for new author T. R. Kester.

Born and raised in Adelaide South Australia Kester was forced to discover his writing abilities through grief. In 2005 his older brother died, which pushed Kester to become an author. ​Kester’s original purpose behind writing was self-therapy.

“I was not able to process the grief of the situation productively so my high school counsellor suggested I should start a journal. The journal never eventuated and I began writing short stories about witches and all things fantasy,” said Kester.

It was later in 2015 when things started to fall into place. Kester’s partner Neil saw an article in a local paper saying that an Adelaide Hills publisher was starting his own company.

​“He was looking for new authors to publish,” said Kester. “I entered his writer’s competition and was a runner up to the winner.”

After 10 years of hard work Kester had published his first novel Something Wicked, in the same year, 2015. He said he hopes to release its sequel, Something Secret, soon and is currently working on the fourth installment.

Something Wicked is about a lineage of three witches known as the Pogue brothers. The witches are faced with many domineering enemies to fight in order to save the human race. “The journey has been interesting. I have drawn so much on my emotions that once I got published I suddenly felt like I had completed my grieving of my brother’s passing.”

Kester’s plan is to write as many books as possible for the series. More books are to come.

The journey continues By Biblio Virgo

By Biblio Virgo

A new book will be joining the literature world this coming fall, 2017.

Mary Castillo, hometown author of National City, a suburb in San Diego, has decided to continue on in her story of Dori Orihuela.

Castillo said her novel Lost in the Light received the best feedback from readers and was the fastest to earn out. Earn out means making profit by earning what you invested.

“For readers who want ‘everything books’ - romance, mystery, drama, history and a touch of the paranormal - Lost in the Light was a hit. It is a book that hardcore mystery or romance readers have enjoyed,” said Castillo.

Lost in the Light revolves around detective Dori who was relieved of duty for a period of time due to a gunshot wound. In the meantime Dori purchases a grandiose, victorian historical home that she renovates to make her own. Throughout the novel Dori discovers the home is haunted by the ghost of Vicente. With many conversations and visions, Dori learns Vicente’s dark story.

After Lost in the Lightwas published, Castillo continued on with an ebook called Girl in the Mist. From there she will now publish Lost in Whisperswhere Dori continues to speak with ghosts.

15 novels and novellas written and 11 published, Castillo has made a career with writing in publishing, advertising, journalism, public relations and social media.

Not every path starts out smooth though.

Before endorsing herself in writing, Castillo nearly failed college. She was majoring in history with a track in pre-med.

“I decided that I was going to be a writer and I remember that day so well, because as I walked to the chemistry class I was failing, the sky was brighter and the birds sang and there were no limits to what I could do,” said Castillo.

She said that passing the class with a D was a sign that she was heading in the right direction, which lead Castillo to writing “the book she always wanted to write”.

“Writing a novel is a commitment,” said Castillo. “But it is one I can’t imagine not doing.”

Once a writer always a writer By Biblio Virgo

This interview is with author of Concordant, Izzy Almaz.

1) When did your career of writing begin and what inspired this passion?

I guess I’ve always been a writer. My father’s a teacher and he placed a lot of emphasis on academia while I was growing up. He would always read to me before bed, and encourage me to do writing or art based activities in my spare time. He’d even make me paint a picture, or write a story or journal entry before I was allowed to watch Saturday morning cartoons.

This definitely sparked my passion for the written word. I’ve always found that writing my thoughts down helps me to process them, and also learn more about myself. I’ve kept journals for as long as I can remember and I’ve always loved reading. I was an absolute bookworm as a child. My favorite room in our house was the library, where I would spend hours engrossed in stories, mostly classics or ancient Greek myths and legends.

I didn’t really start writing fiction until recently. My little sister was always the creative writer of the family. She’d always be writing these fantastic stories, plays and songs. I was a bit of a nerd, I guess. I was a very shy teen. I focused on my schoolwork and sport and left the creative stuff up to her.

I moved to America when I was 19 though, on a soccer scholarship, and that gained me some confidence and life experience. With that, came a barrage of stories that I desperately want to share with the world.

2) Were there any obstacles in getting to where you are today, with a published novella? If so, what were they?

I think my biggest obstacle was my own self-doubt. Once I decided to write a book, I struggled to get started because I was so down with the work I was initially producing. I spent so much time over thinking what people would think of my writing, I was too nervous to show my writing to anyone to critique, I stressed about all the little things and because of that, it took me ages to get the story out.

Once I’d finished the draft for ‘Concordant’, I had to deal with all that self-doubt all over again when sending it to people to read. It was nerve-racking waiting for people to give me feedback, and then once I got it, I had to overcome my ego being bruised. Receiving criticism was hard at first, and it usually took a few days for people’s comments and ideas to sink in and for me to go from ‘pfft, they don’t know what they’re talking about’ to ‘okay they have a really valid point, I need to edit my work’.

Actually getting my novella published was another obstacle. Querying agents was terrifying at first, and while the first few rejections stung, it made me realize I might have to change my game plan if I wanted to get my work out there. I had a few friends who had self-published books, so I gathered as much information as I could and decided to self-publish my work.

3) Why and how did you choose the genre of dystopia for your novella?

I’ve always enjoyed science-fiction movies, or basically any story with futuristic setting, because I really like to entertain questions like: What kind of world will the future bring? What kinds of technological advancements will be available to us? And more importantly, how will they impact our society, and how will it change us as humans?

Before I wrote the novella ‘Concordant’, I had a vague story idea that I’d imagined I’d write as an action screenplay. One day, when I was working as a chef, I spilled a pot of boiling sauce on my arm and had to take nearly six weeks off so my burns could recover. During that time, I read The Hunger Games and the Divergent trilogies and those books allowed me to reimagine my vague story idea in a dystopian setting. Reading those YA books also sparked in me a desire to write stories that represent minorities, particularly LGBTQ+ characters, so while I had time off work, I started writing ‘Concordant’.

4) How did you come up with the title ‘Concordant’?

I really like one-word titles, I’m not sure why, maybe I’m lazy! I like minimalism, and I like the thought of finding one, single word that sums up the whole vibe of a book or film.

I actually never thought I’d call the novella Concordant, but at the time, I needed some sort of title because people kept asking me what I was working on, and I also like to label my notebooks, so there was a need for a title of some sort.

Concordant means to be amicable, or harmonious, and I thought that it best described the social and political environment that ‘Concordant’ is set in. As I continued to develop the story, I realised the title kind of applies to Romy’s relationships, particularly with Richard. So, it stuck!

5) What was your writing process like? Did you have a plan? How did you choose the setting of New York?

Normally, I just write and see where it takes me, but when I decided I wanted to write a complete story, I realised (much to my dismay) that considerable planning and preparation would have to take place. I started by getting the plot out of my head by handwriting it all in a notebook. From there, I developed the ideas and characters, broke the story down into chapter-like segments, and then tried to start writing from the beginning.

I never realised how much planning goes into writing books! I did so much plotting and scribbling. I ended up finding a technique that worked well for me using an assortment of sticky notes to arrange chapter numbers and plot points. That way, I could shuffle my chapters and ideas around as needed. This was the easiest way for me to keep track of all the changes that came as the story developed. At times, characters appeared out of nowhere, or I’d think of a great piece of dialogue but found it didn’t fit where I wanted it to so I’d slot it into a later chapter.

The same goes for locations and settings. There are a bunch of fictional cafes and restaurants in ‘Concordant’ and keeping track of them all took a whole lot of planning. I chose the setting of New York because I initially wanted Richard to work on Wall Street, but as his character and the story developed, he became the CEO of Halcyon Entertainment. I considered setting the story in Australia, perhaps in Melbourne or Sydney, but ultimately I felt the story belonged in New York City. Though I’ve never been to New York, my experiences from living in America gave birth to the story and shaped the social landscape that’s present in ‘Concordant’, so I felt like the story belonged there.

6) How did you create the main character Romy? What inspired her personality?

At the risk of sounding like a complete narcissist, Romy is based on myself. Being a queer person of mixed race, I’ve never really fully identified with any characters represented in mainstream literature. My solution to this was creating a main character that looks exactly like me! But in all seriousness, I think diversity and accurate, authentic representation is really important, and it’s something I strive to include in all of my work.

I came up with Romy’s character when I was working at a cafe that’s located close to the CBD, and I would spend a few hours each morning hidden behind a bar making bread dough. While I was kneading away, I would watch and listen to all the customers and, in particular, I’d notice the regulars from the offices nearby. There would be a few guys who’d come in multiple times each day with different clients and I’d find it so fascinating to watch how their mannerisms and behaviors changed each time, flawlessly adapting to their client’s individual wants or needs. That gave me the idea for Romy’s character, and a way to introduce her to Richard.

Romy’s personality was inspired by most, if not all, of my bad traits. As journal writing has always been a reflective exercise for me, it seemed only natural that this extended into my fictional writing as well. I enjoy basing my main characters on myself and using them to analyze my own behaviors. In Romy’s case, I was inspired by my ambitious and materialistic tendencies. I wrote her as a kind of critique on myself.

7) What made you decide on a cliffhanger ending and what can you tell the readers to tie loose ends? Do you wish to pursue the story with another book?

Ultimately, I wanted ‘Concordant’ to spark ideas and questions about our relationship with modern technology with regards to our privacy and human rights. I wanted to make my readers think about wealth disparity and who actually holds power within our society. I hoped that ‘Concordant’ ending with a cliffhanger would prompt these questions, and many others. I guess I wanted readers to think critically about what the ending might mean and in turn, ask their own questions about technology, humanity, and society.

I’ve had a few readers that have read the last chapter as Romy and Pat dying, which is different to what I intended it to read like! But in saying that, I think there’s a beauty in not spelling every little thing out to your audience so they are able to make their own interpretations and bring their own understandings to the story. With that being said, I do wish to pursue the story in ‘Concordant’, either in the form of a sequel, or in a full sized novel.

8) What future goals do you have for writing? Do you plan on writing more books?

I certainly do plan on writing more books! In addition to furthering the ‘Concordant’ story, I’m working on a children’s book for trans and non-binary kids, a semi-autobiographical book based on my experience as an soccer scholarship recipient at an American college, and also a romance novel which will be told in two parts, the second part being a retelling of ‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier’. It can be a little counter-productive having multiple projects on the go, so for the moment I’m concentrating on the romance novel, mostly because my partner got a little offended that I didn’t dedicate my first book to her!

My ultimate goal for my writing is to constantly improve my story telling, and to broaden my knowledge of language and how to utilize it effectively and artfully. I’d also love to write for different mediums, in fact, I spent most of 2016 adapting ‘Concordant’ into a screenplay and I’m currently writing a short film that I hope to direct this year.

9) What makes ‘Concordant’ stand out from any other book?

I like to think ‘Concordant’ stands out from other dystopian books because it features a number of LGBTQ+ characters, particularly Romy – an androgynous woman – as the main character. But, even though there are many diverse characters in ‘Concordant’, I wanted to tell the story in a way that didn’t necessarily highlight their differences – I wanted to normalize them.

I also think the novella is unique in the way the chapters are numbered. I wanted to emphasize that ‘Concordant’ is set in a future that revolves around ‘memory screening’. I wanted to evoke a feeling that citizens in this society are constantly counting down the hours until their next scheduled ‘screening’.

10) What tips can you offer young writers?

I think the most important tip for any aspiring writer is to read. That’s how you learn to write with good grammar and spelling, that’s how you improve your vocabulary, that’s how you discover different writing styles and genres. Be a sponge. Absorb the knowledge. Hone your tools.

Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t write every single day. I think it’s important to set realistic and manageable writing goals. If you exceed them it feels super rewarding, as opposed to setting the bar too high and then getting disappointed if you don’t clear it. Sometimes deadlines are great, they can force you to knuckle down and complete a project, but in my experience, they can also stifle creativity. There will, most likely, come a time when you must have the ability to work under pressure and complete a certain amount of writing in a given timeframe, but while you don’t have those restraints, allow yourself a day (or week) off every now and then to relax, think, and explore.

Above all, I think it’s important to write with passion and purpose. Write the stories you’ve always dreamed of hearing.